Mercedes SLS GT Safety Car

With the launch of the new SLS GT, the torch has been passed and the old Mercedes SLS safety car has been retired. The new GT is pretty much the same car, but it’s sharper, more powerful, and has slightly cooler looks.

With an increase in power output to 435 kW (591 hp) compared to its predecessor, optimised gear shift times and the new AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension, the GT evolution of the gullwing model is perfectly placed to cope with its demanding role in the elite class of the world of motorsport. The GT will be driven by Bernd Mayländer who’s been doing this for over a decade.

Visually the car gets a few gloss black details and darkened lights. The safety car has also been fitted with a lights bar, special livery and a stripped out interior featuring communication gear, lots of cameras and other gadgets it needs for the job.

Further details in Mercedes press release below:

The SLS AMG GT Official F1™ Safety Car was deployed for the first time in a race situation at this year’s 2012 FORMULA 1 SHELL BELGIAN GRAND PRIX and there is a high probability that it will make an appearance during the night race on Singapore’s Marina Bay street circuit. Indeed, Race Control has deployed the Safety Car in every FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX since it joined the calendar in 2008. The race also promises to be highly exciting from a sporting perspective: the four races have produced a total of three different winners.

The job of the Official F1™ Safety Car is, as always, to help ensure maximum safety for the F1™ field is maintained in extreme situations. As soon as Race Control considers that the safe progress of the race may be impeded, it sends the Safety Car out onto the track. Poor weather conditions or accidents are the main reasons for its deployment. The new SLS AMG GT differs from the previous SLS AMG in terms of its increased driving dynamics, even better on-track performance and also new design features.

The new SLS AMG GT is driven by Bernd Mayländer, who is 41 years old and comes from Germany. The Official F1™ Safety Car driver has fulfilled this role since 2000 and he is a key member of the FIA’s safety team across the race weekend. Bernd Mayländer said: “The new SLS AMG GT is the best Safety Car I have driven. The combination of increased performance, optimised transmission shift times and the new AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension takes the driving dynamics of the gullwing model to an even higher level. I have now been driving the different Safety Cars since 2000, and with each new vehicle I notice a significant enhancement over the previous model. This is where the pursuit of high performance and precision, which is so typical of Mercedes-AMG, is clearly evident again.”

His co-driver, FIA associate Pete Tibbets, who is 45 years old and from Great Britain, remains in permanent radio contact with the Race Control during deployment of the Safety Car. The Official F1™ Safety Car is also on call throughout the race weekend for the majority of the accompanying race series, such as the GP2™ and GP3™ Series and the Porsche Supercup.